Hen&#39;s nest.



UNITED- STATESY v PATENT OFFICE.

RUPERT E. ZEARFOSS, OF ,KEOTA, IOWA.

ll-Haws' NEsT.

sPnornIcArIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,051, cated october s, 1899.

Application iiledP une 3, 1899. Serial No. 719,265. (No model.)

have invented a new and useful Hens Nest, V

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to nests for fowls, and

v 'has for its object to provide an improved nest which shall be self -closing when the fowl enters, thereby preventin g the entrance of other fowls while the nest is occupied.y

With this object in view my invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and afterward specifically pointedout in the appended claims. y

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention most nearly appertains to make anduse the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a nest constructed in accordance with my invention open and ready for the entrance of the hen or other fowl. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the nest closed, the spring and latehbeing shown in dotted lines. V

Like letters of reference mark the same parts wherever they occur in the various iig.- ures of the drawings. v

Referring to the drawings by letters, A indicates a box of suitable size and preferably provided with a sloping roof .or top B. In the front C is slidablysecured a door D, having a hole E near its lower end.

F indicates a shallow box hinged tothe front at G and having its rear end suspended by a spring H, the straw or other cushioning material, as at I, being placed in such box.

.I indicates a wire bail-shaped latch rigidlysecured at its ends in the sides of the box F, extending yupward and provided with a bent forward projection K in its upper cross-bar,

adapted to be seated in the hole E when the `door is raised and the nest in its normal po.

sition, as in Figs. l and 2, thereby holding the door in its raised or open position.

The parts bein g' in their normal position, as stated, the fowl passing into the box and occupying the nest will press the inner or rear end of the nest downward, the spring being only of sufficient strength to support box F on its hinges will cause the bail to move inward at the top, drawing the projection K out of the hole E and permitting the door to drop to its closed position, thus inclosing the fowl in the box Aand securing it against theintrusion of other fowls.

VThe simplicity, efficiency, and advantages of the invention will. be readily understood from, the foregoing description.

While I have illustrated and described what Iconsider to be the best means nowlrnown to Vme for carrying out myinventioml do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to the exact forms and constructions shown,as many slight changes therein or variations there from might suggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic, all of which would be clearly included within the limit and scope of my invention. ,y

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-

l. The combination in a nest for vhens or other fowls of an outer box provided with a self-closing door, an inner hinged box yieldingly supported and a latch secured to the the inner box is raised, and releasing it when lowered, substantially as described.

2. lThe combination in a nest for hens or other fowls, of an louter box having a sliding door, an inner box hinged at one end and yieldingly supported at the other, andalatch secured to thel inner. door in position to engage and hold the door raised,when the box is elevated, and release it when depressed, substantially as described. Y

3. The herein-described nest comprising the outer box, the vertically-slidable door inthe front thereof having an opening near its lower end, the inner box hinged at one end to the front of the outer-box below the door, the spring suspending the inner end of the inner box, and the bail-shaped latch rigidly secured at its ends to the sides of the inner box near its hinges and having a projection from its upper cross-bar adapted to engage in the opening in the door when the doorY and inner vbox are raised, substantially as described.

RUPERT n. ZEARFos's.

Witnesses:

W. L. HOLMES, JAMES RALsToN.

the unoccupied nest. This motion of the IOO 

